It began with a threat. Batman had discovered a presence in Gotham that had not only been doing his job—but completing it with military effectiveness. Furthermore, Batman and the Bat-family were being watched.

And then an idea. Batman would recruit Kate Kane to not only join him—but to train and lead a brand new team of heroes. Red Robin, Spoiler, Orphan and the villainous Clayface would form a new team of vigilantes armed with the precision and execution of a military force.

And then a problem. Little did they know that an immediate threat—The Colony—would send an army of drones to destroy potential threats to the city! As the team divides to conquer, Batwoman faces her father, potentially turning her back on her team of trainees, and Tim Drake finds the best way to stop the drones from raining destruction on Gotham. He’s given them a single target. Himself.

Now, it’s the moment you’ve held your breath for.

In this week’s DETECTIVE COMICS, Tim Drake has just taken on the first wave of drones, and despite a few cracked ribs and wounds, he has survived. But the drones won’t quit coming until their mission is complete.

While Batman and the Bat team rush to the Belfry, Tim asks that Bruce tell them all how important they were to him, and how grateful he was to be a “Robin”. And then as Stephanie rushes to help, he says his final goodbye to the woman he loves.

Then this just happened:

The team has won, but now they must live with what they lost.

Batman asks Batwoman to lock up her father in the Belfry while he seeks out Spoiler. Spoiler’s devastation is apparent as Bruce tries to comfort her, as well as help her understand that Tim always knew this was a possibility. Stephanie then shows Bruce what Tim has been hiding—his acceptance into a university, and his way out.

And then this just happened:

Tim Drake? Alive?! As the mysterious shrouded figure tells him, Tim has been taken “off the field,” as he is too important to let die, but must be kept out of time from the ones he loves. How will he escape from this new prison? And who will know to search for him when they believe him dead? Only time will tell.

Don’t miss this gripping conclusion to “Rise of the Batmen” from writer James Tynion IV and artists Eddy Barrows (pencils), Eber Ferreira (inks), Adriano Lucas (colors), and Marilyn Patrizio (letters) in DETECTIVE COMICS #940!